The IAF has never sent RFI for the F-35 and LM has never been blocked by the Pentagon or State Dept (where did you get that info from)?
From severall defense press organisations, and severall analysts including Richard Aboulafia.
If anything, the Pentagon made it explicitly clear that they were open to including India in the JSF consortium (I’ve posted the quote by Ashton Carter).
I have severall identical quotes for Brasil, and when the FAB asked specificaly for the F-35A in the FX-2, LM answer was a warmed over F-16. I suspect the same is happening here.
They offered the F-16 because the line is going defunct, nobody else has any serious interest in the aircraft post 2020, and they see the opportunity to milk it for another decade (instead of writing off the infrastructure) if they can get India to buy in.
Highly doubtfull. The reason why almost certainly the F-35A was not offered to the IAF twice in a row was because the State Dpt looked at the MRCA and this new “Made in India” and what was asked in terms of technological transfer was entirely out of order.
Also made a presentation to the MoD with clearance from the Pentagon though it hadn’t come before the State Dept yet (who have no reason to block it).
US offers F35 to India as India-US Defence Cooperation grows
Eh, F-35A presentations by LM have been done to everybody and its dog, including the Brasilians, the Saudis, the UAE, and so on.
But, well, soon enough we´ll know wich of us is correct, if indeed LM officially offers Dave, then you are correct, if not, dont make a mistake, i am correct and it was indeed blocked at the Congress/State Dpt.
Cheers
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